DITF finally gains momentum after lackluster opening

This year's Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) finally witnessed huge crowds on its 11th day on Saturday, as customers in large numbers flocked to the month-long fair.

After remaining closed on Friday due to the beginning of the countdown to the 100th birthday of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the fair was seen teeming with crowds of people.

Customers thronged stalls and pavilions selling mainly home appliances, kitchenware, crockery, children's toys and food items.

Demand for local crockery was higher than international brands.

Azizul Islam, a pavilion-in-charge of PRAN-RFL's Best Buy outlet in the fair, said: "Our pavilion was crowded today (Saturday) compared to the last 10 days. Customers who could not visit the fair on Friday came today. Our sale has finally started to pick up."

The pavilion is offering more than 3,000 crockery products and home appliances, selling at 5-10% discount while some products are selling at 20% discount, according to sales executive of the Best Buy pavilion.

Friends Gift Corner, a stall inside an international pavilion, was also seen to serve a huge crowd of customers intending to buy crockery items at discounted prices.

Md Shahin Alam, owner of the stall, said they were giving discount on crockery items made from steel and plastic.

"Any spoon or saucepan made from steel or plastic are selling for Tk130 per piece, which was Tk200 per piece previously," he added.

Stalls of furniture, clothing and food items were also the most visited ones.

A salesman of Hatil Furniture said order for their products increased on Saturday compared to previous days, and hoped it would increase more in the coming days.

Farjana Yasmin, a consumer who came with her sister Farhana from Uttara, said they visited the fair on Saturday with their children as it was the first opportunity they got since it opened on January 1.

It's time for play 

Children, who came with their parents, were seen enjoying different rides at the children's park set up inside the fair.

Riya Moni Keya, a three-year-old girl, was happy after she rode on the children's railway ride.

Afterwards she insisted on riding all the other rides. "I brought her here so that she could enjoy the rides. In fact, I had no particular plan to buy anything," said Kulsum Akter, Keya's mother.

Rasel Mahmud, who came from Narayanganj, said his three-year-old son became impatient and began crying after he got tired.

"He finally calmed down after coming here," he added.

AR Fair Hossain, ticket seller at the ride zone, said extreme cold could not deter the huge crowd, as he sold more than 200 tickets from 10:00am till 2:00pm on Saturday.

There are 16 children's rides, as well as another ride for adults, with ticket price ranging from Tk40 to Tk100.